County employees in Davidson County, North Carolina, are receiving a new and innovative healthcare benefit. Doctor on Demand allows patients to visit doctors virtually using a smartphone, tablet, or a centrally located kiosk.

The service will allow county employees and those covered by their plans to remotely visit a doctor from any location, at any time of the day or night, all year round. With an estimated 3-minute wait time, patients can be evaluated by a board-certified physician and be prescribed medications if necessary at a lower cost than is typical for an in-office visit.

Costing the county $17,000 per year, county officials presume that the reduction in insurance claims costs will more than compensate for the expense. Patients using Doctor on Demand will be charged $40 per visit, as opposed to the estimated $100-120 per in-office visit.

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Learn more about the Doctor on Demand program here.